Biologist

Environmental Science Associates is hiring a mid-level Biologist with 2-7 years of experience for a full-time role based in Modesto, CA. The position requires fieldwork, biological monitoring, and compliance reporting at construction sites. Candidates should be located within commuting distance of the San Francisco Bay Area or Central Valley and must be willing to travel. Some weekend and evening work may be required.
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.



ESA is seeking a mid-level biologist with 2-7 years of experience in relevant scientific or environmental consulting environment. This is an exempt, full-time, salaried role with hybrid flexible expectations. Qualified candidates must be located in the San Francisco Bay Area, vicinity of Sacramento, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Central Valley, or within 3 hours commute. All qualified candidates must be willing & able to travel as needed. Preference given to candidates located in the bay area and central valley of CA. This role involves travel for site visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed.







Who You Are



Qualified candidates should have previous experience performing natural resource-related evaluations, technical studies, analyses and tasks requiring knowledge based on education and at least two years of professional experience.
Previous construction compliance monitoring experience required.
Qualified candidates must demonstrate the ability to perform all aspects of biological monitoring on small to large, complex construction projects. Some night and/or weekend work may be assigned. General experience with wildlife and vegetation species from the geographic area of work: California Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
Qualified candidates must have experience surveying and monitoring CA nesting birds.
Preference given to candidates with direct experience surveying, handling, and monitoring for, or with monitoring approvals by state and federal agencies for one or more of the following species: San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, northwestern pond turtle, San Francisco garter snake, giant garter snake, California black rail, western burrowing owl, western spadefoot, vernal pool brachiopods, Swainson's hawk and/or other nesting birds, Crotch's bumble bee, and bats.
You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required
Must possess a valid driver's license and have own transportation to project sites
Must have a smart phone with sufficient data plan to collect necessary data on-site






What You Will Do for ESA



Perform biological compliance monitoring and reporting at active construction sites to ensure conformance with environmental/permit requirements
Conduct special-status species surveys and nesting bird surveys
Construction compliance monitoring
Identify and may relocate sensitive species, when needed and if agency-approved
Effectively communicate with senior ESA staff, construction crews, project personnel, and project management staff
Take initiative and contribute to a respectful, feedback-driven team culture
Maintain daily written monitoring and inspection logs, including utilizing electronic data collection tools, such as Fulcrum and Trello
Enter data into an on-line GIS mapping application, such as Fieldmaps, Collector, Survey 123
Deliver worker environmental awareness training to on-site staff
Comply with all safety requirements and policies
Field work outside, potentially in remote or rural settings, as well as in urban environments.
Desk-based data processing, technical evaluations, and a range of client deliverables
Training/mentoring early career biologists
Other ad hoc tasks as needed






What's Special About Our Biology Team


Our Biology Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many municipalities throughout California. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state's sensitive natural resources. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.


We encourage you to read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed.







What's Special About ESA


Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.


At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.


We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.



Who We Are


We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.


In accordance with ESA's duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.





If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.


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ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)